Conditions On Acquisitional Models
Brian MacWhinney · 1978
Nine conditions that may be placed on acquisitional models are that they must: (1) specify their domain, (2) demonstrate applicability across language types, (3) represent only the information actually available to the child, (4) include inputs and outputs in a proportion corresponding to their observed proportions, (5) include inputs and outputs in a sequence corresponding to their observed sequence, (6) make plausible assumptions regarding psychological processes, (7) make testable assumptions regarding psychological processes, (8) give evidence for the learnability of the proposed grammar, and (9) demonstrate the ability of the system to generate the output. A model is presented that attempts to satisfy these nine conditions for one area of linguistic development—the acquisition of morphophonology. The functioning of the model is sketched in terms of a dialectic cycle for the processes of application, monitoring, and acquisition. The system of application is based on a competition between rote, analogy, and combination. The discussion notes ways in which the model addresses each of the nine conditions noted above.